The dogtooth tuna hangs around reefs both in the lagoon and above the seaward slope, where it is caught by fishermen trolling along the reef. While it is a popular food fish, at least part of its diet consists of reef fish, so it is possible for it to cause mild cases of ciguatera poisoning. Studies on fish caught at Enewetak Atoll revealed that the skin and internal organs, in particular, could be moderately infused with the substance that causes ciguatera.
Occasionally you can see them cleaned by large Labroides bicolor.
Since these fish will sink if they stop swimming, to slow down enough for the cleaner fish to work, they will often slowly swim upward, just fast enough to counteract their sinking.
Created 28 February 2019